• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.550-554
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to screen the testosterone-like activities of eight oriental medicines with an in vitro testosterone compound detection (TCD) system. Distilled water and 80% ethanol, both at 80℃, were used to obtain extracts from Cervus nippon temminck (Nokgaksang), Cynanchum wilfordii (Baeksuo), Lespedeza cuneata (Yagwanmun), Panax ginseng (Hongsam), Smilax china (Toryeong), Taraxacum platycarpum (Mindlre), Tribulus terresteis (Namgase), and Trigonella foenum-graecum (Horopa), and extracts at concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 ㎍/ml were assessed using the TCD system. The testosterone-like activities of the 80% ethanol extracts were seen to increase with concentration and ranged from 0.9 to 5.0 times higher than those of the negative control; Horopa and Yagwanmun exhibited superior testosterone-like activities, followed by Mindlre and Hongsam at the same concentration. Toryeong and Namgase, on the other hand, showed low activity with Nokgaksang and Baeksuo exhibiting very low levels. Compared with the activities of the positive control (5α-DHT), the 80% ethanol extracts of Horopa and Yagwanmun at a concentration of 500 ㎍/ml showed higher testosterone-like activities than 10^-8 M 5α-DHT. The water extracts showed lower activity levels than the ethanol samples, and the change of activity with concentration was also lower. It was confirmed that the 80% ethanol extracts of Horopa, Yagwanmun, and Mindlre etc. enhance the transcription efficiency of testosterone-related genes and may therefore be useful in developing health food or medicinal treatments for the improvement of male menopausal symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.532-538
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• 2016

Menopause is characterized by a decrease in estrogen production by the ovaries. Furthermore, the risk of developing chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes increases in menopausal women. In this study, we evaluated the ability of Caragana sinica (CS) to affect lipid and glucose metabolism in an ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rat model of induced menopause. The animals were divwided randomly into three groups: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX), and ovariectomized rats treated with 1% water extract of CS (OVX-CS). The OVX-CS treated mice showed a significant decrease in body weight, adipose tissue, triglyceride, and total cholesterol. Improved lipid and glucose profiles were also observed, and were attributed to suppression of hepatic lipogenesis and adipokine production and regulation of glucose-regulating enzyme activity. Therefore, these findings indicate a potential use for CS as a functional food for menopause-induced hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.86-103
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyse the domestic trends of Traditional Korean Medicine on Hot flush in menopausal women. Methods: We searched six databases and selected relevant papers according to the criteria. Results: 12 papers included case report, literature review, randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs), Non-RCTs, and retrospective chart analysis study design. 1. The daily diary, Kupperman's Index, Menopause Rating Scale, Menopause-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging were used as a measure of the symptoms of hot flush. 2. There were significant correlations between Thermographic images, Pulse energy, Lifestyle Habits, Low frequency power/High frequency power (LF/HF) ratio and certain items of Menopausal Symptoms Measurement. 3. The case report using Er-Xian decoction and Hwangryunhaedoktang-Gamibang showed significant effect. 4. Domestic RCT studies using herbal or acupuncture treatments showed a significant value of 3.4 on average in the quality assessment conducted in the study. However, the number of domestic studies included was five, which is not enough compared to foreign countries. Conclusions: This study examined domestic research trends on hot flushes of menopausal women and found that various evaluation tools and diagnostic methods were applied. It is necessary to conduct various RCT studies in Korea, where the number of studies is insufficient compared to overseas.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2019

In recent times, the number of men with late-onset hypogonadism has increased, and interest on this topic has also increased. This study was conducted to investigate effects of the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus on improve late-onset hypogonadism. The experimental subjects consisted of three groups: a control group consisting of 8-week-old male ICR mice that had undergone no treatment, an aging-elicited group (AE group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone no treatment, and a Mixed herbal extract treatment group (MT group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus treatment (0.1 g/kg/day) for 6 months. After the experiment, the mice from all the experimental groups were dissected, and they were analyzed through histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus reduces aging-induced cell damage and oxidative stress and increases the secretion of serotonin and B-endorphin in aged mice, and promotes spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules and reduces apoptosis and oxidative stress, and increases androgen receptor, $17{\beta}-HSD$ and GnRH, increases the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fibers in the corpus cavernosum, increases eNOS, decreases PDE-5 and oxidative stress in aged mice, so it improves depression, reproductive, sexual problems caused by Late-onset hypogonadism. the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus inhibits the induction of osteoporosis by increasing decreased bone matrix distribution due to aging, increasing the activities of OPC and OPN, which are produced in osteoblasts, and decreasing RANKL, MMP-3 activity, increasing OPG activity. It also reduces muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis of muscle tissue, and increases Myo-D in the sartorius muscle of aged mice for improving muscle atrophy caused by by Late-onset hypogonadism.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.25-35
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• 2021

Middle-aged women experience diverse psychological and physical stresses and tensions through the menopause, aging, and taking up too many social roles, which often leads to sleep disorder. But there are not many scientific researches on the issue. Therefore, the research of efficacy of singing bowl that helps relax middle-aged women who have sleep disorder is needed to improve their health. This study was conducted with Giorgi's phenomenological method with 4 middle-aged women with sleep disorder, whose Pittsburgh sleeping quality scale marked over 5 points, who took part in singing bowl experience for 40 minutes and did the interview. The study resulted in following conclusions that through participants' singing bowl experience, 518 constructive meanings, 15 meaning units, 7 sub components, and 2 group subjects were drawn up. Firstly, when participants took part in the singing bowl experience, they underwent physical, mental, imagery experiences which are physical pain and muscle relaxation, mental relaxation, and positive mindset and imaginary images and colors. Secondly, physical changes that the participants felt after singing bowl experience was increased physical relaxation, improved physical symptoms and more physical activities, and psychologically participants also felt reduced anxiety, increased happiness and positive mentality. And behavioral changes are relaxed movements, increased activities, and improved sleep is huge benefit through changes of sleep pattern. In this study, singing bowl is confirmed to be effective both physically and psychologically on relaxing the middle-aged women's tensions that are caused by sleep disorders and singing bowl experience is meaningful in that the middle-aged women as well as modern people with the sleep disorders can be helped to have better lives.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.589-605
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• 2023

Soy isoflavones are attracting attention from postmenopausal women because of their beneficial effects on menopausal symptoms. This study was investigated whether a combination of soy isoflavone genistein and swimming exercise (Gen+SE) would have a beneficial synergistic effect on obesity and improvement of liver function compared to the genistein only (Gen) and swimming exercise only (SE) in ovariectomized mice. Ovariectomized mice were randomly divided into control group (Con), Gen, SE, and Gen+SE, and were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. As a result of examining the body weight, weight of white adipose tissue, lipid accumulation of liver, and serum ALT and AST levels, both Gen and SE decreased compared to Con, and Gen+SE decreased more than compared to Gen and SE. The expression of inflammatory cytokines MCP-1, IL-6 and TNF-𝛼 genes in liver decreased in both Gen and SE compared to Con, and were further decreased in Gen+SE compared to Gen and SE. But The expression of adiponectin showed opposite results. The expression of fatty acid oxidation related genes in liver increased in both Gen and SE compared to Con, and were more effectively than increased in Gen+SE compared to Gen and SE. Therefore this study suggests that the interaction between soy isoflavone and swimming exercise is very effective controlling obesity and recovering decreased liver function, and this is caused by promoting fatty acid oxidation in the liver in ovariectomized mice.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-34
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• 1994

This study has been done in order to analyze the relationship between climacteric symptoms and the stress of life events. For the purpose of this study. objectives set up were as followings. : 1. Climacteric symptoms complained by middle aged women are studied. 2. The stress of life events experienced by middle aged women is studied. 3. The relationship between climacteric symptoms and the stress of life events is studied. 4. The relationship between climacteric symptoms and general characteristics is studied. and the relationship between the stress of life events and general characteristics is also studied. The sample size of this study was 462 cases. The subjects were middle-aged women. who were from 40 to 60 years old and resided in Seoul. Data were collected by using questionnaires which consisted of 122 questions from Jan. 1 to Feb. 7 in 1992. The questionnaires include questions about general characteristics. climacteric symptoms and life events. The measurement scales for this study were adopted from the climacteric symptoms scale developed by Chi. Sung-Ai and the measurement scale of stress related to life events devised by Lee. Pyoung Sook. The analysis of data collected was done by using SPSS-pc package. Firstly. general characteristics were analyzed by using descriptive statistical methods. Secondly. climacteric symptoms were analyzed by using descriptive statistical methods. the analysis of variance and correlation analysis. Thirdly. the stress of life events was studied by using descriptive statistical methods. the analysis of variance. and tests of independence. The results of this study are as followings. 1. General characteristics of the respondents are as followings: The average age is 49. 13. and the age group from 46 to 50 has $30.5\%$ in the respondents. Christianity is the major religion $(42.6\%)$. and the respondents with a high school diploma are $(43.1\%)$ of the respondents. $60\%$ of all respondents are housewives. and $90.5\%$ are married. The average number of children is 2.71. and the average number of family is 4.24 Monthly income of $39.1\%$ of the respondents is from l,010,000 Won to 2,000,000 Won. The premenopausal group is $4.9\%$. and $45.5\%$ of all respondents are satisfied with marrital life. $43.3\%$ of all feel happy. and $13.9\%$ feel economic frustration. $27.9\%$ of respondents are satisfied with sexual life. and $45\%$ of all report that the amount of recreational activities are more needed. 2. The average score of climacteric symptoms is 1. 8461 (The maximum score is 5.0). The symptoms complained frequently are nervousness. muscle-ache. fatigue. headache and knee-ache. Climacteric symptoms are significantly different in menopausal states. age groups. the number of children, marrital satisfaction. the feeling of life. self-reported health states and sexual satisfaction. 3. The life events occurred frequently were 'discord with husband', 'children's important exams', 'separation from husband related to works' and 'vacation'. When life events are analyzed by factors. the most frequently mentioned factor is 'marrital life'. The stress of life events is significantly different in a few general characteristics (age. the number of children, the number of family, monthly income, menopausal status, the feeling of life. self-reported health states, economic satisfaction). 4. The score of climacteric symptoms complained is significantly different according to the stress of life events (p<0.051, Especially, the difference is the widest in psychological symptoms according to the factor of 'couple. marrital life' among stressful life events. In Summary, climacteric symptoms complained by middle-aged women are related to the amount of the stress of life events. Whether life events are positive of negative is not important. Yet. climacteric symptoms and stressful life events are deeply related to general characteristics. so we can not insist strongly that one be directly related to the other.